Skip to search formSkip to main contentSkip to account menu
Limits of life in MgCl2-containing environments: chaotropicity defines the window.
TLDR
The exceptional chaotropicity of MgCl(2) is document here, and it is shown that this property, rather than water activity reduction, inhibits life by denaturing biological macromolecules, in hypersaline environments.
View on PubMed
Is there a common water-activity limit for the three domains of life?
TLDR
Evidence that halophilic prokayotes can grow down to water activities of <0.755 and extrapolation of growth curves indicated theoretical minima down to 0.611 aw suggest that there is a common water-activity limit that is determined by physicochemical constraints for the three domains of life.
View on Nature
Stratified prokaryote network in the oxic–anoxic transition of a deep-sea halocline
TLDR
A 2.5-m-thick chemocline with a steep NaCl gradient at 3.3 km within the water column betweeen Bannock anoxic hypersaline brine and overlying sea water is reported, supporting some of the most biomass-rich and active microbial communities in the deep sea.
View on Springer
Limits of life in hostile environments: no barriers to biosphere function?
TLDR
It is found that some fungi grew optimally under chaotropic conditions, providing evidence for a previously uncharacterized class of extremophilic microbes, and enhanced biotechnological processes, and increased productivity of agricultural and natural ecosystems in arid and semiarid regions.
View on PubMed
Microbial community of the deep-sea brine Lake Kryos seawater-brine interface is active below the chaotropicity limit of life as revealed by recovery of mRNA.
TLDR
These findings shed light on the plausibility of life in highly chaotropic environments, geochemical windows for microbial extremophiles, and have implications for habitability elsewhere in the Solar System.
View on PubMed
The biology of habitat dominance; can microbes behave as weeds?
TLDR
It is shown that microbial weeds are conceptually distinct from plant weeds, microbial copiotrophs, r‐strategists, and other ecophysiological groups of microorganism.
View on Wiley
Culture Age, Temperature, and pH Affect the Polyol and Trehalose Contents of Fungal Propagules
TLDR
This is the first report of polyols and trehalose in fungal propagules produced over a range of temperature or pH, and shows that culture age and environmental conditions affect the physiological quality of inoculum and can thereby determine its potential for biocontrol.
View on ASMUSA
Manipulation of intracellular glycerol and erythritol enhances germination of conidia at low water availability.
TLDR
This study shows for the first time that manipulating polyol content can extend the range of water availability over which fungal propagules can germinate and may improve biological control of insect pests in the field.
View on PubMed
A new analysis of Mars "Special Regions": findings of the second MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group (SR-SAG2).
TLDR
Significant changes in knowledge of the capabilities of terrestrial organisms and the existence of possibly habitable martian environments have led to a new appreciation of where Mars Special Regions may be identified and protected.
View on PubMed
Multiplication of microbes below 0.690 water activity: implications for terrestrial and extraterrestrial life.
TLDR
Water activity in relation to the limits of Earth's present-day biosphere; the possibility of microbial multiplication by utilizing water from thin, aqueous films or non-liquid sources; whether prokaryotes were the first organisms able to multiply close to the 0.605-aw limit; and whether extraterrestrial aQueous milieux of ≥ 0.605 aw can resemble fertile microbial habitats found on Earth.
View on PubMed
...
...
By clicking accept or continuing to use the site, you agree to the terms outlined in our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Dataset License